The Patriots have won 12 straight in the series & are one game behind the Colts domination over the Texans. BUF put a lot into the season opener & played a perfect game despite being outgained 441-276. They would have won if not for a fumble on a KR at the end of the game that NE recovered to set up the game winning TD. NE has been playing it close to the vest this week as despite beating CAR 20-10 LW, Randy Moss has been taking a beating by the media. BUF beat the Chiefs LW but looking at KC’s #30 & #30 units (0 TO’s) on the year I’m not very impressed with the quality of victory. Weather could be a factor here but I trust Brady over Fitzpatrick who has passed for 184 total yards with a 4.28 ypa the L2W.

I was impressed with the 49ers win on MNF as Singletary is developing a strong reputation for having his team rise up vs better talented foes. I noted prior to the SEA/SF game that it wouldn’t be long before Gore (167 yds 6.7) tore thru a defense once teams started backing the extra safety out with the 49ers spread offense taking hold. PHI is going to have a day & a half of extra rest over SF who has to fly cross country & play in a 10 AM Pacific game in poor weather conditions. PHI controls its own fate atop the NFC East & McNabb has been solid at home passing for 248 ypg (64%) with an 8-3 ratio. SF is allowing 275 ypg (64%) with a 10-3 ratio on the road TY & this is the farthest East they have traveled in over a year. The Eagles have too many edges here to ignore & should be able to contain Gore. 

The Ravens rolled the Lions LW 48-3 as they put the ball in Ray Rice’s hands & outrushed them 308 (7.7) to 103 (2.2). Harbaugh has pretty much let it be known that he is sticking to the run game the rest of the way & they get a good matchup here. CHI is already looking forward to 2010 as the players have openly wondered who on the coaching staff will return. CHI is allowing 122 ypg (4.1) on the road TY & their aging OL doesn’t matchup well vs the Ravens front 7. Cutler has an 8-17 ratio on the road & isn’t expected to have Devin Hester (calf strain) here. BAL is 5-0 vs that currently have a losing record while CHI is 1-7. Weather could be a factor here but I like the Ravens who control their own playoff destiny with the Jags loss to the Colts as they are the more physical team.

This could be the biggest blowout of the week. The Texans ship righted itself LW vs SEA as Schaub put up 365 yds (74%) with a 2-1 ratio & tied their season high of 34 pts. STL came into LW’s game without their best defensive player in FS Otogwe (shoulder) & were forced to start rookie 6^th RD DC Keith Null from West Texas A&M. STL was “only” outgained 446-240 as Null threw 5 Ints which gave TEN 3 drives in STL territory. Things have gone from bad to worse for the Rams for this game. They’ll be without both starting OG’s from LW with Jacob Bell landing on IR & Spags rightly taking a stand & cutting Richie Incognito after he had 2 personal foul penalties in the 1^st Qtr. Spags had to cancel Thursday’s practice due to the H1N1 virus & Null could make his 2^nd start this week as Kyle Boller (thigh bruise) was thought to have come down with it. The Rams don’t have the skill players to match up with the Texans who pull to .500 here.

Its safe to say that JaMarcus Russell’s days are over here after he led an uninspiring effort with 74 yds on 16 att’s LW & was sacked 6 times coming off the bench. I think Tom Cable’s job is safe here as he is being allowed to start Charlie Frye who ran the scout team all year for the Raiders. Frye started 1 game for SEA LY & cobbled together 83 yds (52%) with a 2-2 ratio with a very depleted offense. DEN played a good game vs IND LW forcing 3 INTs off Manning & own the #5 seed. DEN is very thin at safety here but OAK could be without TE Zach Miller (50 rec’s 13.1) who would be a Pro Bowler on a better team & inconsistent deep threat Heyward-Bey (9 rec 13.8) here. The benching of Russell tells me that OAK is serious about winning & OAK’s defense should keep this fairly close.

This is the 4^th meeting in 5 years with a 3-0 record by the home team. MIN got back into the win column last week beating the Bengals as they recommitted to the run with 37 att’s. Even with the ARZ loss the Vikings have a great statistical edge with the #3 & #2 units (+3 TO’s) vs the Panthers #25 & #22 units (+4 TO’s) over the L4W. The play style of the Panthers #4 rush attack plays into the hands of MIN’s #4 rush defense as they lack the QB or WR’s in the passing game to threaten here. MIN also has a great matchup edge vs CAR’s OL that is minus both starting OT’s with Geoff Schwartz a 2^nd year 7^th RD DC getting his 1^st start here at RT. This will be the Panthers playoff game here & the players will do whatever they can for Fox. MIN learned its lessen by thinking they could just walk into ARZ a few weeks ago & will not make that mistake again.